Broncos' Ramirez to replace injured Kuper

At least around reporters. He declined an interview request Wednesday, as he has all season. But around defensive tackles? Those he will take on.

Ramirez will be taking on a good one Sunday in Dwan Edwards, an eight-year veteran who already has a career-best five sacks through eight games in his first season with the Carolina Panthers.

Ramirez will replace the injured Chris Kuper at right guard Sunday when the Broncos begin the second half of the season at Carolina.

At least the challenge is not the first for Ramirez. He started the first five games this season in place of Kuper, who was out with a broken left forearm.

"He's a very good player," Kuper said of his replacement. "Nothing to worry about."

There has to be some concern, though, because Kuper is considered one of the best interior pass protectors in the league. In the three games Kuper started, Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning never was sacked. In the five games Kuper didn't play, Manning was sacked 10 times.

Not that Kuper was the only reason Manning stayed clean in the previous three games and Ramirez was the problem in the first five.

"There have been some different guys in there playing, and whoever's been in there stepped up to the plate, so I'm grateful for their effort," Manning said. "Those guys practice well. We spend a lot of time together talking during meetings, watching film together. The one thing between a quarterback and his offensive line is constant communication.

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You're always talking. We treat practice like a game, treat meetings like a game where we're constantly talking, trying to be on the same page, especially when you play on the road."

Cam is no Tebow

Integrating Ramirez back into the offensive line will be one factor in the game between the Broncos and Panthers on Sunday. Figuring out how to stop the dual threat athlete that is Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is another.

The Broncos hope their time running the spread option offense with Tim Tebow last season will help them against Newton. Difference is, Newton is considered a more capable passer and larger and faster runner. The Panthers run some read option plays for Newton.

"I like to think we were doing it first," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said in a conference call with the Denver media Wednesday, "but I think some of the things that we do are similar to what the Broncos were doing last year with Tim Tebow. I think we line up and do some more conventional stuff as opposed to constantly using that zone read scheme that Tim ran so well for Denver

Notable

Broncos cornerback Tracy Porter was again absent from practice Wednesday because of symptoms relating to a summer seizure. ... Carolina isn't just John Fox's former team. Most of his current Broncos' staff worked there, too, including his three coordinators (Mike McCoy, Jack Del Rio, Jeff Rodgers), his offensive line coach (Dave Magazu), secondary (Ron Milus), receivers (Tyke Tolbert), linebackers (Richard Smith) and assistant secondary (Sam Garnes).

New coordinator pushes Buffs to work, play at level he expectsJim Leavitt has discovered this much about his new defense at Colorado: He has some talent with which to work, but his players need to put it in another gear. Full Story